SILVANA — The Silvana Fair marks its return on July 27 to the tiny town between Stanwood and Arlington, whose Viking Hall and surrounding fairground fields come alive with the sounds of family farming fun on the last Saturday of every July, marking the start of fair season in the Pacific Northwest.

“Like Brigadoon, it’s a one-day event that appears almost magically, only to disappear again the next day,” said Lynn Pattison, vice president of the Silvana Community Fair Board. “Unlike Brigadoon, it’s come back every year since 1948, and it’s not magic that brings it, but the hard work of a small local group of dedicated volunteers who put the fair together every year.”

This year’s Silvana Fair will officially commence with the flag raising and opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., followed by children’s games and judging of the animal exhibits. Live music will kick off at noon, and food will be available all day long. After a lunch break, the judging will continue, along with a tractor pull exhibition and other events.

“Be sure to visit the many vendor booths, and check out the fabulous exhibits inside Viking Hall,” said Pattison, who noted that this year’s fair will conclude, as always, with the Parade of Champions and closing ceremonies at 5 p.m. “Adults and youth alike are welcome to enter their best works in a huge variety of departments, including the traditional fair exhibits such as cooking, sewing, horticulture and a number of crafts, as well as computer science, photography, creative writing and many other categories.”

Pattison added that young people aged 6-19 can enter animals including rabbits, poultry, dogs, cows, goats, swine and more, even if they’re not members of animal clubs. Both youths and adults can win ribbons, and youth exhibitors also earn money for their exhibits. She explained that one of the primary goals of the Silvana Fair is to prepare the community’s youth for the fairs that will follow later in the summer and in the fall, making it a “learning fair,” where young participants can make mistakes and learn from them while still enjoying themselves.

“Everyone who goes to the fair is sure to learn something about farm life and rural activities,” Pattison said. “People love to see their favorite exhibits, and there’s always something new to see and talk about.”

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